Gate-latch



(No Model.)

GATE LATCH.

No. 406,037. Patented July 2, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. DULEBOHN, OF ELIZABETHTOVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

G AT E LATC H SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 406,037, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed April 3, 1389; Serial No. 308,316. (No model.)

To all 20710112 it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOHN G.DULEBOHN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabethtown, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in spring gate-latches; and the object of my llllprovement is to connect the latch with the swinging end of the gate in such manner that the vibrating end of the latch may be adjusted to compensate for any sagging of the posts between which the gate is hinged.

It is a very common occurrence for gateposts to sag either toward or from the gate. \Vhen they sag inward, the spring-latch in such common use is often thrown beyond the bevel of the keeper, and striking the end thereof prevents the gate from being closed, while when the posts sag outward the latch fails to touch the keeper at all. My improved latch overcomes these diliiculties.

I attain my object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the swinging end of a gate in its normal position when closed, the latch being in engagement with the notch in the keeper-plate. Fig. 2 is a front view of the latch. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the swinging end of a gate in its normal position, the latch being in position to engage the beveled front of the keeper. Fig. 4 is a top view of the same, but showing the position of the latch when the posts have sagged away from each other, so that the latch fails to engage the keeper; and Fig. 5 is a top view of the same, showing the position of the latch when the posts have sagged toward each other so far as to throw the latch beyond the beveled edge of the keeper.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, A represents the post at the end of the gate, to which the spring-latch 13 is attached.

G is the ground-post to which the keeper plate D is fastened.

The spring-latch B is fastened at its lower end to the front face of the post A and the keeper-plate to the outer face of the ground post C. There is ashort slot c cut through the spring-latch above the point at which it is fastened to the post A, and below the part I), which engages the notch (Z of the keeperplate. A set-screw E passes through this slot and is screwed into the face of the post A.

\Vhen the posts occupy their normal positions, the latch is so set that the tightening up of the set-screw will allow it sufficient play to fulfill its functions, and so that when that screw is loosened the latch will follow it for ward. This position of the parts is shown in Figs. 1 and Should the posts sag toward each other and throw the latch so far forward as to prevent it from engaging the bevel (Z of the keeper-plate, as shown in Fig. 5, the setscrewis tightened up until the latch is in po sition to properly engage the keeper; but if the posts sag outward until the latch is drawn entirely clear of the keeper, as shown in Fig. l, the set-screw is loosened until the latch is again in position to engage the keeper.

It will be understood that the latch is of such length as to enable it to assume the several positions described with any ordinary sagging of the post-s. This length will vary with the length of the gate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and .desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a spring-latch, secured to the gate at the lower end and havinga slot cut through it above that end, and a set-screw passing through said slot and engaging the post of the gate, substantially and for the purpose specified.

JNO. G. DULEBOHN.

lVitnesses:

ABRAHAM R. FORNEY, JOHN K. HERB. 

